2015 NY Knicks offseason thread, Los Almighty appreciation thread

[nycknicks105]

MKG is actually a fairly decent perimeter defender and his shot has come a LONG way since he's first entered the league. Him being able to change his form and improve that area of his game is enough to show me his ability to adapt and adjust parts of his game. He's still very young and can drop some of his bad habits.

I've always believed you can change things like form, readability on the floor, awareness etc etc in someones game. But you can never really change the kind of "motor" they have. It's either you bring effort or you don't.

You need players like MKG in a team with Melo, because he does all the things Melo can't/won't do. But I wouldn't bring him on the team just to shed Caldo and drop in the draft.

No thanks to Kemba either. I love the guy, but he's not the right player for the Knicks and the system we're trying to run. Ideally--The Knicks would like to pair Melo with a Big that can help space the floor for Melo in the Triangle.

 

[squatchnt]

Until we get another player that can consistently score points these defensive specialists have to take a back seat. I'd be interested in a MKG type once our offensive deficiencies are addressed. He'd be a good fit once we can score some points. Shooters are a dime a dozen, but shooters who can make shots aren't.

 

[bballkid11]

Al Iannazzone: Pistons president/coach Stan Van Gundy says he’s “not entirely optimistic” about re-signing Greg Monroe, who many expect to be a Knick.

 

[yeeupp]

$15M fresh off injury

Wesley Matthews Seeks Deal Worth $15M Annually
JUN 22, 2015 11:53 PM


Wesley Matthews will seek a new contract worth approximately $15 million per season, according to a source.

Matthews averaged a career-high 16.4 points per game two seasons ago and 15.9 points per game in the 2014-15.

Matthews, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon on March 5, has returned to basketball activities and is expected to be ready to play at the start of the regular season.

Wish we could get in this Cousins business.

 

[ny mavurs]

Wes Matthews gotta be high

 

[johnnyredstorm]

that hustle

 

[the gr8est]

Until we get another player that can consistently these defensive specialists have to take a back seat. I'd be interested in a MKG type once our offensive deficiencies are addressed. He'd be a good fit once we can score some points. Shooters are a dime a dozen, but shooters who can make shots aren't.

I'm trying to move away from these MKG conversations as much as possible (even though I am aware that I basically started them 

) because it is not a real rumor as far as I am concerned and like dude said before, I dont think Charlotte would get rid of him just to move up 5 spots in the draft.

But strictly from a Knicks perspective, you are looking at this the wrong way. I agree that the Knicks arent a MKG player away from winning. Not even close. But he is 22 years old and could be a foundation of this team's future. He would be established in the perfect role in the perfect city for when we do have the pieces to win.

And it is not like I am proposing that the Knicks trade their entire team away to get him. I just know that the Knicks are looking to trade down if a scenario exists in which they could get a real asset back and not fall too far back in the draft. This would be that ideal scenario IMO.

Phil has been rumored to be looking at guys like WCS even with the 4th overall pick, and not so in love with Mudiay. I don't think that Phil should be forced into selecting a player that he doesnt love. He needs to build this team his way according to his vision. I get that some of yall might not trust this vision, but I can guarantee you that Phil Jackson wont work out in NY unless he is able to do it his way. It may work, it may not work. But it wont work if we dont allow him to do his thing, that is for damn sure.

If this is true, why wouldnt you want to trade back to the 9th pick, get a real ******* young asset/former 2nd overall pick/national champion/future starter/perfect compliment to Melo/culture changer/potential NYC fan favorite/glue guy in MKG, and then draft a guy like WCS or Cam Payne anyway? You would also save money instead of throwing it down the Greg Monroe drain. We could spend this money on either a PG or center in free agency (whichever position we dont draft) and shooters/veterans like Danny Green or even Wes Matthews, since we wont have to spend big bucks on someone like Monroe.

If we did make a move like this on draft day, that winning team that needs a player like MKG (especially next to a player like Melo) might not be that far away. You would get MKG and also fill a bunch of other major needs/holes this summer through free agency and still have the draft pick. And we would still have money to spend next summer.

But back to the real rumor, DMC. Sure, George Karl is a ******* moron for wanting to get rid of him, but we would be ******* morons to not take advantage of this. **** the Bulls used Isiah in this way for years, why cant we do the same? 

IMO Phil needs to have George Karl and Denver on his speed dial right now trying to work a three way trade centered around Boogie, Lawson/Faried (Karl's 2 boys who are being pushed out of Denver), and our 4th pick. I think there is a deal there that could be done. There are a couple of players i would be willing to trade down in the draft for (Bledsoe and MKG being 2 examples), DMC is probably the only player on the market I would be perfectly content in trading out of the draft for. Players like that dont just come around.

Phil, Melo, Cousins... The **** you George Karl team 

 

[d3si]

Winslow: I'd be "great fit" with Knicks
10 m
Ian Begley, ESPN Staff Writer

Justise Winslow isn’t sure where he’s going to be drafted on Thursday night. But if he ends up in New York, which has the fourth overall pick, Winslow believes he’ll be a “great fit” with the Knicks.

“The team is built around Carmelo (Anthony), obviously, so I feel like I’m somebody that can complement his skills and play with him in that offense,” Winslow said in an interview with ESPN on Monday. “I feel like on the offensive end, it would be a great fit next to him and the pieces that they already have -- and I’m sure that they’re going to bring in someone else in free agency. This is an exciting time to be a part of the Knicks. If that’s where I land, that’s somewhere where I think I can excel.”

Winslow worked out for the Knicks two weeks ago and had a subsequent dinner meeting with members of the club last week. During his workout, Winslow watched film of the triangle with team president Phil Jackson, coach Derek Fisher and other members of the organization and then implemented some of the triangle actions on the court.

“I think the workout went very well," said Winslow. "They got to know me as a player and got to know me as a person and what I can bring to the organization. I think I put my best foot forward and showed them who Justise Winslow is.”

Scouts see Winslow as a player who can play both shooting guard and small forward at the next level. If the Knicks were to draft Winslow and play him at small forward, they could shift Anthony to power forward -- a spot Melo has seen success in recent seasons. Last season, the Knicks outscored opponents by 5.7 points per 48 minutes when Anthony played power forward, per 82games.com. Conversely, they were outscored by 7.2 points per 48 minutes with Anthony at small forward in 2014-15. (For a deeper look at how Winslow can fit in the triangle and next to Anthony, click here.)

Winslow also projects as a player who can defend multiple positions, and some scouts believe this is where he'll make the largest impact early in his career. Winslow’s defense on the perimeter would be a welcome ingredient for a Knicks team that struggled to slow down opposing perimeter players last season.

“There’s different ways I can do that,” Winslow said regarding his impact on defense. “I have nice length, long arms and strong hands, and I’m athletic. I’m big enough to body up in the post and quick enough to get in the passing lane or make a late contest on a shot and I think I can guard multiple positions.”

Sharp style: Winslow plans to showcase his versatility and style with his draft-day outfit as well. Thanks in part to his partnership with with Axe and GQ, you won’t see Winslow in an embarrassingly garish outfit on Thursday night.

“I won’t be in a rainbow suit,” he says. "Something simple."

If some Knicks fans get their wish, Winslow will be wearing an orange and blue hat at the end of the night, which is an enticing prospect for the 19-year-old.

“Just for me, living here the past six weeks, it’s a place I’ve become really comfortable with," Winslow said. "It’s a fun city, the market’s great. It would allow my brand to build and explode and if I were to land here I would be extremely excited and I think we would have a bright future.”

Knicks get private look at Porzingis
4 m
Ian Begley, ESPN Staff Writer

The Knicks brought in Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis for a private workout on Monday, league sources said.

Monday’s workout was the second time the Knicks viewed the 7-1 sharpshooter in person; Phil Jackson and Derek Fisher also traveled to Las Vegas to watch Porzingis’ workout earlier this month.

The fact that New York brought him in for another workout is evidence the Knicks are considering the possibility of selecting him with the fourth overall pick on Thursday night if he's still on the board. The Daily News first reported Porzingis’ private workout.

New York is also scheduled to work out Myles Turner, who told reporters in Detroit that he’d be working out for the Knicks on Tuesday.

 

[Air Pope]

Apparently, the Kings owner won't let Karl trade DMC

 

[squatchnt]

I'd take DMC in a heartbeat! I'm def mot hung up on the 4 spot in the draft as I said before nobody imo is that much better than the others in the top 10. They might be better in certain situations but no concenus player. I'm gonna ride with PJ as the only move I didn't like was Caldo but he did seem like a triangle pg imo, I just don't like Caldo. LOL even tho I'm not as big on THJ as I was season 1 I'm not ready to throw in the towel on him yet...

 

[yeeupp]

IMO Phil needs to have George Karl and Denver on his speed dial right now trying to work a three way trade centered around Boogie, Lawson/Faried (Karl's 2 boys who are being pushed out of Denver), and our 4th pick. I think there is a deal there that could be done. There are a couple of players i would be willing to trade down in the draft for (Bledsoe and MKG being 2 examples), DMC is probably the only player on the market I would be perfectly content in trading out of the draft for. Players like that dont just come around.

Knicks get = Cousins, Andre Miller or Reggie Evans (Evans, Finally)

Denver get = Larkin, THJR , D Collison (Keep their 7th pick)

Kings get = Knicks 4th pick + Lawson + Faried + Caldo (For George Karls sake) = Still holding on to the 6th pick.

Kings are looking for a PG, trying to ship Rudy to create space for Rondo or Lawson or something. Our 4th pick can land them Russell or Mudiay?
Can draft Mudiay or Russell and still select WCS or someone, Kings are not getting punked in this trade.

Knicks would be looking at a scenario of possibly Cousins and Melo at the 5-4 or 4-3. Unloading Caldo's contract, would still have decent $ to build. Couins is making $14M next season.

 

[d3si]

Just checked out Chad Ford's recent articles/mocks. He has us getting D'Angelo at 4th pick. WCS if we went big.

 

[nick.]

i'd be 100% ok with Winslow

@HerringWSJ: Phil, on potentially trading the pick: "We're listening. Not soliciting so much, but we're listening."

 

[johnnyredstorm]

Can live with Winslow but I rather go PG.

 

[Renaldo Balkman]

from a birds eye point of view... the only way the Kings move DMC is if they package him and the 6 pick to Minny for Rubio and the first pick in the draft.

Kings get Rubio and Towns
T-Wolves get Cousins and the 6 (which they could package with Bennett to move around even more in the draft)

 

[d3si]

Just curious. Did Myles Turner work out for the Knicks?

 

[nick.]

@IanBegley: FWIW, #Knicks Phil Jackson says there is a small percentage that he will trade the pick.

 

[d3si]

Good! Stick with the pick.

I like Winslow but I want Phil to draft a PG or a big guy.

 

[the gr8est]

@YEEUPP  Like that scenario, but get rid of that cancer Cousins please... All we really need is Reggie "the goon" Evans 

I doubt that Minnesota would even be willing to trade the first overall pick for Cosuins. Not that they wouldnt love Cousins, probably more so than Towns, but you know DMC is not going to be happy traded to Minnesota.

Maybe they could win him over if they start gelling, especially if Wiggins pans out like she should, but why even risk it as opposed to just drafting Towns and building for the future? Especially since Towns has expressed desire to play for Minny in the long term.

 

[clyde the glide]

still can't decide if i prefer russell or mudiay.

 

[worldbeefreeg]

Taking Winslow over one of the Euro guys would be an awful, awful decision and would be done solely on xenophobic terms. I want Russell but if we can't get them, it would be so ******* stupid to pass on Hezonja or Porzinigs cause of fear of Euro's being busts (which is extremely overblown anyway).

 

[nycknicks105]

The more I think about it, the more I start to lean on drafting Mudiay. Unless Russell can be the next CP3, you have to go with Mudiay. The guy is basically the prototypical NBA PG.

 

[johnnyredstorm]

The more I think about it, the more I start to lean on drafting Mudiay. Unless Russell can be the next CP3, you have to go with Mudiay. The guy is basically the prototypical NBA PG.

he's got a pro body already too

 

[flyeed]

I'm convinced Knicks and Phil are trolling with Porzingis to try getting a top 2 big

 

[the gr8est]

I'm convinced Knicks and Phil are trolling with Porzingis to try getting a top 2 big

Porzingis IS a top 2 big